Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real CO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics & Professional Standards flashcards as text
An orthotist is asked to provide a written testimonial for a legal case involving a patient they currently treat. The most significant ethical concern is:
Answer: Potential conflict of interest between advocacy and objective clinical testimony
Serving as an advocate for a current patient in legal proceedings can compromise the objectivity required of expert witnesses.
Which behavior exemplifies the ethical standard of professional integrity in orthotics practice?
Answer: Accurately documenting all clinical findings even when unfavorable
Accurate documentation regardless of how it affects reimbursement or perception exemplifies professional integrity.
A patient with cognitive impairment cannot provide informed consent. The orthotist should:
Answer: Obtain consent from the legally designated surrogate decision-maker
When patients lack decision-making capacity, a legally authorized surrogate must provide consent for treatment.
An orthotist notices a pattern of unnecessary referrals from a physician who receives a fee-sharing arrangement. This is prohibited under:
Answer: The Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute
The Stark Law prohibits physician self-referrals for financial gain, and the Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits fee-sharing arrangements that influence referrals.
An orthotist disagrees with a prescription written by a physician but proceeds without discussion to avoid conflict. This approach fails which ethical standard?
Answer: Advocacy and interprofessional communication for patient benefit
Orthotists have an ethical duty to advocate for patients by communicating clinical concerns to referring providers rather than ignoring them.
Whistleblower protections under the False Claims Act are relevant to orthotists who:
Answer: Report fraudulent Medicare or Medicaid billing by their employer
The False Claims Act protects employees who report healthcare fraud against government payers from employer retaliation.
A patient's family member calls to ask about the patient's treatment plan. Without patient authorization, the orthotist should:
Answer: Decline to disclose protected health information without the patient's consent
HIPAA prohibits disclosure of patient PHI to family members or others without explicit patient authorization.